Page 40 - link magazine

40 The Link Magazine • October 200 2
Back to the drawing board for library in the centre
REVIRS Although Swindon's temporary central library has served the town for 27 years, the unsightly and

undignified ramshackle jumble of huts in fact replaced an earlier temporary building which first
appeared on site over fifty years ago.
SOLICITORS Swindon photographer Denis Bird recorded the first
for Independent incarnation in 1952, three years after it was first installed
behind the town hall, right.
Financial Advice
The present building was described in 1999 by consult-
See us first for impartial guidance ants as 'the worst central library in the country for a town
y
v
on in estment and mone m alters of its size.' Over half a century on, Swindon Council is still
struggling to find a permanent solution.
Offices in Swindon.
An ambitious project to re-develop the Regent Circus/
Wootton Bassett and Caine
Theatre Square district to create a cultural quarter involv-
Contact ,Jeremy Angell ing a library, art gallery, museum and refurbished theatre,
on 01249 814536 alongside office, retail and residential units, is being re-
I
y viewed.
Authorised b the Financial Services
Authority to conduct investment btuiness Although the government has agreed to provide £4
million in private finance initiative credits, development
consultants have advised the council that the business
plan for the project cannot be sustained financially.
W LLS North library slips back
The opening of the long awaited library at the North
Professionally drawn by
Swindon District Centre has been moved back another
THE ANDREWS three or four months until 'the Spring' - but the good
news is that work is about to start on fitting it out.
PARTNERSHIP Built within the terms of a Section 106 planning legal
agreement between Asda Walmart and Swindon Council,
A professionally prepared where developers provide facilities for the good of the
will can avoid delay and community, the building has been available to Swindon
distress for your family Council since the beginning of the year. However the dire
finances of the council has prevented its fitting, stocking or Reading group for the west
Home visit service:
Single £49.95 • Double £69.95 staffing. Part of the enjoyment of reading is sharing and
Head of Swindon's library services David Allen said he discovering new titles with other people and
Tel: (01793) 642245 was now very optimistic that North Swindon would soon the increasing popularity of readers' groups
have a state of the art library. He said the basic plan was the taps into this.
www.theandrewspartnership.co.uk same as he described in the January Link. "It has been a Would you be interested in joining an infor-
difficult year for the council with much uncertainty for mal and friendly group at the West Swindon
many services which meant we were unable to progress library to take part in lively discussion and pick
' 1 1 1 1 the project as quickly as we wanted. Fitting out a new up new reading ideas?
library is a massive undertaking which has to be done Call Tracey Dowling at West Swindon li-
right. Given that we were provided with just walls, a roof brary on 465555 to register your interest.
and services, we had to have a clear vision of the long term.
1
People's Network gets online
SOLUTION New free internet provision in Swindon's li-
braries will be launched at Wroughton library
Maintenance free at the end of September when the People's
Network comes to town.
UPVC fascia boards
Set up with £500,000 grant from central gov-
cladding & guttering ernment, the network will be extended to Cen-
Expertly fitted at DIY prices tral and West Swindon libraries, where the
present four terminals will be increased to 12.
F•.1:1: S11Rv'1;1'
Life-long learning and your library
NO 1)E1 OSI f We've moved a long way away from the idea
A view of the library now blocked by the second phase
Work it out for yourself building of the North Swindon District Centre that education is just for schools writes Pat
Gould.
20 fascia board fitted £ 60
"I am pleased to say that work Will soon be underway on The concept of life-long learning is a much
20' fascia & gutter fitted £135 the internal fitting out with a handover planned for early more interesting and exciting prospect and
20' fascia. soffit & gutter £205 in 2003." you're never too young to start. The Bookstart
20' fascia & soffit £130 He added that a staff team has been working all year on scheme run jointly with health visitors helps to
(prices correct at time of publication)
selecting the 30,000 books, CDs and DVDs which will bring books and babies together and Swindon's
satisfy the needs of the youngest to the oldest users, and libraries stock board books, stories and rhymes
negotiations with a training provider to develop the infor- for babies and toddlers to enjoy and there is
mation and communications technology training suite are material suitable for children about to start
well advanced. school. Several branches have regular
Apart from the IT training suite, the library will have storytimes.
about twelve general access computers available as part of You're never too old to take up a new inter-
the Government sponsored 'People's Network.' est, study or hobby either and the growing
There will be a separate children's section and also an army of 'silver surfers' shows that people of
For a free quote area for reader development where users can discover any age can learn about the internet and other
new authors and share their experiences of books. forms of information technology.
Mr Allen said a precise opening date had still to be We're always hearing the slogan 'education,
identified. "Next year's council budget is still being worked education, education but don't forget to link it
on which has implications on staffing levels and opening with'libraries, libraries, libraries' and our own
e-mail: [email protected]
times." slogan of 'learn, enjoy, discover'.